Zambia’s quest to join Zimbabwe on the most decorated Cosafa Cup winners list today goes on the line as Herve Renard’s lads face Klaus-Deiter Pagels’ Warriors at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
According to bolazambia, the match kicks off at 15:00 hours with the third and fourth playoff pitting South Africa and Lesotho taking place earlier at 13:00 hours at the same venue.
Zimbabwe have won the trophy a record four times, the highest any team has won it and the Chipolopolo could join them with victory on Saturday.
The two sides clashed in the last edition of the competition in the finals with Zimbabwe who hosted the match winning via a 3-1 result.
Renard has narrowed the contest to a grudge match saying it is time for his side to avenge the 2009 loss to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe had also won the 2005 edition at Zambia’s expense making it two better over the Chipolopolo.
The Warriors have fought their way to the final after sweeping aside Malawi in the quarterfinals and beat Lesotho 2-1 in the semi finals to earn the right to defend their crown.
Two goal hero in the semi final Tendai Ndoro and Erick Chipeta are the men Pagels is counting on to go past the Bronson Chama and Christopher Munthali marshaled backline.
Monomotapa midfielder Ronald Chitiyo, who despite his slim build, has been a handful for any side the Warriors have faced and the Zambians should be wary of his neat passes in the middle of the pack.
But with the Zambians geared for only one result at their fortress Levy Mwanawasa where they are yet to lose a match the stakes will be high.
The yet to bond striker partnership of Bonwell Mwape and Festus Mbewe will have to raise the bar higher to do better than their unimpressive shift in front of goal against South Africa.
With Bruce Musakanya unlikely to shake off injury, Renard could opt to give youngster Julius Situmbeko a role on the left wing to add creativity alongside the flamboyant Mukuka Mulenga.
The backline that has only conceded one goal in open play against Mozambique will need to raise the bar.
Zimbabwe will be in familiar territory having been the team that opened the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in an international friendly that the hosts won 2-1.
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